Device for producing copies



@ctn 16, 1952 W. LIMBERGER 3,058,410

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COPIES Filed May ll, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l wrm/roe;

Oei. 16, 1962 W. LIMBERGER 3,058,410

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COPIES Filed May 1l, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unit States 3,058,410 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3,658,410 DEVICE FR PRGDUCING CPES Walter Limberger, Hamburg, Germany, assigner to Lumuprint Zindler ILS., Hamburg, Germany Filed May 11, 196), Ser. No. 28,337 Claims priority, appiication Germany May 13, 1959 12 Claims. (Cl. 95-77.5)

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating a layer carrier together with an original at a light source for making copies, preferably however it relates to an exposure device combined with a developing device. According to a simple embodiment the invention is utilized as an exposure device which may either be used separately or in connection with a developing device. According to a preferred construction the invention provides an apparatus comprising an exposure device and a developing device between which guide means are eifective.

The invention is based on an apparatus for making copies by using an exposure device along which an original and a sheet of copying paper lying one upon the other are passed and then separated, whereupon the original is conveyed out of the apparatus while the copying paper is passed through a developing device.

In order to simplify the production of copies efforts have been made to obtain an operation which is as far as possible automatic. In this -mode of operation special problems are encountered in separating the original and the copying paper as well as in feeding the latter to the developing device, during which feeding operation a positive layer carrier must be fed to match the copying paper. Known constructions of extensively automatically operating apparatus are relatively complicated thereby raising the cost of manufacture of these apparatus, requiring a large space for them, and possibly making them prone to failures in operation.

An object of the invention is to provide a simplied construction of the exposure device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exposure device in which the passing of layer carriers is effected with more care than before.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an exposure device which is simpliiied as compared with the prior known devices, and in which the layer carriers are treated with more care, said exposure device having a developing device attached thereto and improved means for guiding the exposed negative layer carrier to the developing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which requires extremely little space.

Generally the invent-ion provides a separating element in an exposure device, said separating element holding the sheet-like original and negative layer carrier at least partly separated when being passed through the exposure device v so that the original and the negative layer carrier may easily be guided to different guide paths at both sides of the separating element at the outlet of the exposure device.

One embodiment of the invention provides a separating element forming a separating tongue which is movable over the exposure device becoming elfective at the end of separate inlet slots for the copying paper and the original. Preferably the separating tongue is movably supported in such a way that it may be moved through the exposure device together with the advancing sheet. Suitably the movable separating tongue is arranged between the leading edges of the original and the copying paper, and serves at the same time, after having been moved through the exposure device, for guiding the copying paper to the inlet of the developing device.

In this embodiment of the separating tongue it is of advantage to provide an abutment lfor the original or the copying paper. By means of this abutment, which preferably is provided for the original, the separating tongue is moved in dependence on the advance with which the sheets are passing the exposure device, and due to the resulting guidance between pressure means any injury of the sheet engaging the abutment is avoided.

The invention includes the construction of the separating tongue as a pivotal segment being substantially concentrically supported to the guide path through the exposure device and the inlet to the developing device. In this the guide path for the original and the copying paper may advantageously extend in a corresponding arcuate form. It has also been provided to `form the guide path through the `developing bath correspondingly.

According to one embodiment the separating tongue is connected with a pivotal lever.

The separating tongue serving as guide element for guiding the copying paper into the developing device forms in its end position, after the copying paper has been exposed, a connection between the exposure device andthe developing device. This embodiment has the advantage that a number of hitherto required parts are avoided.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following description of several embodiments given by way of examples and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a part view of the apparatus according to FIG. l at the outlet of the exposure device seen in the direction of arrow Il in FIG. 1,

lFIG. 3 is a `sectional side View of another embodiment o-f the apparatus.

FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment in which an exposure device and a developing device :have been combined.

Corresponding parts shown in the different ligures have the same reference numerals.

According to FIG. 1 an exposure device 2 and a developing device 3 are arranged within a housing 1 below each other. Below the developing device 3 a pile of positive layer carriers 4 has been arranged disposed between guide walls 5 and 6 .in such a way that the pile projects outwardly beyond the front side of the apparatus being 4accessible from the top Ias shown at 7.

In the illustrated embodiment the exposure device comprises a light source 9 arranged within a reflector 8 above which preferably an arcuate transparent exposure platform 10 is arranged. One or more guiding and pressing belts guided over and ldriven by end rollers 12 and 13 are moving over the exposure platform and ensure that sheets being advanced over the exposure platform 10 are pressed against the latter.

The developing device 3 comprises a relatively flat bath container 14 within which two guide paths 15- and 16 are arranged separated from each other by a perforated or otherwise apertured guide element 17. The bath container 14 is covered on top by the bottom of a supply container 18 for the developing liquid. The supply container 18 extends upwardly to about the lower side of the exposure device 2. The container 18 is provided with an inlet opening 19 through which developing liquid may be iilled into the container.

At the end of the bath container 17 the bottom of this container has been extended to form a guide surface 20 leading to a pair of transporting and squeezing rollers 21, 22 which are driven as indicated by the arrows. The extended plane of the guide surface 20 is passing through an outlet slot 23 for the copying paper and the positive layer carrier arranged behind the pair of transporting and squeezing rollers.

Above the outlet slot 23, preferably within an indented section 24 of the front side of the housing two inlet slots 25, 26 for the original and the copying paper are provided below each other. In order to facilitate the introduction of the sheets the outer edges of the guide surfaces are staggered in such a way that the lowermost guide surface, i.e. the guide surface below the slot 26 is projecting outwardly beyond the set back upper guide surfaces.

The lower guide surface 27 extends to the beginning of the exposure platform, while the middle guide surface 28 ends somewhat beyond the guide surface 27 above the exposure platform. The guide surface 29' extends still further into the apparatus but is spaced a greater distance from the exposure platform y10k than the guide surface 28.

In the center of curvature 30 of the exposure platform 10 for example pivoting arms 31 are supported on both side walls of the housing carrying a separating tongue 32. The separating tongue 32 forms an arc of a circle around the pivot point 30 and comprises a strut 33 extending from the uppermost position of the pivoting arms 31 to the inner end of the middle guide surface 28. This strut 33 preferably has a lateral flange 34 which is at least provided at its end facing the guide surface 28, but may also be extended over the entire length of the strut 33. The strut 33 is disposed between two guiding and pressing belts 11, or adjacent one belt of this kind, not interfering with the pressing effect of these belts. The rollers 12 and 13 are provided with circular grooves through which the strut 33 may extend, as may be seen best in FIG. 2.

Furthermore it is to be noted that the end of the separating tongue 32 remote from the pivoting arm 31 and engaging between the original and the negative layer carrier is suitably made resilient for example out of plastic material which preferably is transparent.

In the illustrated embodiment an abutment 35 is arranged on the strut 33 spaced a little from the end facing the guide surface 28 and forming a rib 36 extending over the entire length of the strut 33. Besides the strut 33 a horizontal step-like surface is formed for example by the lateral flange 34. The distance f the abutment 35 from the end of the separating tongue determines the length with which the upper guide surface 29 extends into the housing. The arrangement is such that the upper guide surface 29 ends directly in front of the abutment 35 spaced upwardly from the strut 33, or the lateral flange 34 respectively, when the free end of the separating tongue abuts the middle guide surface 28. The free end of the separating tongue which is preferably resilient and transparent represents that section which projects beyond the rib 36.

In the position shown in FIG. l the feed channels for the original and the copying paper are extended over the exposure platform by means of the strut. When feeding an original and a sheet of copying paper into the apparatus the latter gets below the separating tongue, or the strut 33 respectively, while the original will engage the abutment 35 with its leading edge. If the movement is continued the strut 33 or separating tongue fastened on the pivoting arms 31 is moved over the exposure platform 10, whereby the sheets will get between the guiding and pressure belts '11 and the exposure platform 10. Hereby, the further advance is ensured, and at the same time a pivoting movement of the pivoting arms 31 and a corresponding movement of the strut 33 with its lateral flange 34 is continued. As the abutment 35 is spaced from the end of the separating tongue the forward end of the separting tongue will always remain between the leading edge of the original and the copying paper so that these sheets, though they can have contacting engagement with each other in the exposure device, are constantly kept partly separated at their leading edges. The sections of the rib of the lateral flange positioned between these edges are preferably made of transparent material.

The pivoting arms 31 will move from the upper position shown in full lines in a direction indicated by the arrow 96) into a lower position 31 shown in dashed lines and the strut 33 with its lateral flange 34 will be moved into a position 33', whereby a connecting guidance is formed between the exposure device and the developing device.

It is to be noted that at the exit of the exposure device 2 an outlet slot 38 is provided in the rear wall of the housing. From the bottom of this outlet slot a stripper 37 extends into the housing. The inner end of this stripper preferably extends to the shoulder surface, formed for example by the lateral flange 34, adjacent the rib 36. Bearing in mind that the leading edge of the original engages the abutment 35 forming the end of the rib 36, the original is taken over by the stripper 37, after the pivoting movement of the pivoting levers 31 is completed, and is guided out of the outlet slot 38 by the stripper. It is to be pointed out that, for example a pluraliy of ledges spaced parallel in a common plane may also be provided.

With respect to the developing device 3 the arrangement is such that the end of the strut 33, or the lateral flange 34 respectively, fastened on the pivoting arms 31 engages a guide surface 39 of the developing device forming an extension of the guide surface 17 at the entrance side of the developing bath. In this arrangement the upper side of this guide surface is aligned with the side of the separating tongue 33, or the lateral flange 34, facing the pivoting axis so that the copying paper advancing over these parts may move onto the guide surface 39 and over this into the developing bath without being retained.

A safe guidance of the copying paper on the arcuately formed strut 33, or the lateral flange 34, is assured by the inherent stiffness of the copying paper, due to which the copying paper will engage the guide surface formed by the strut, or the lateral flange respectively. In this connection it is pointed out that in correspondence with the arrangement of a plurality of guiding and pressing belts 11 it is of advantage, to arrange several struts 33 spaced over the width of the device.

According to the illustrated embodiment the lower position of the pivoting arms 31 is determined by an abutment 40 arranged on the side walls of the housing. It is also possible however, to let the strut directly contact the end of the guide surface 39.

`On the axle of the pivoting levers 31 a pivoting segment 55 is arranged having an outer surface forming an arc of a circle. A band 91 fastened on the upper part of the pivoting segment is guided over this outer surface and carries at its lower end a weight 92. This weight will effect the automatic return of the separating tongue 32 to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 after a layer carrier has passed. It is pointed out that also a spring may be provided for this return movement which for example may engage one of the pivoting arms. The means `for this return movement, either weight or spring, are relatively ineffective so that the resisting force against passing the layer carriers through the exposure device is small.

A pile holder 41 Iformed by a tiltable flap is arranged within the housing above the pile 4 and is urged against the uppermost positive layer carrier by means of a weak spring or merely by its own weight. This pile ho'lder forms the inlet guide path into an upwardly curved inlet channel 42 for the positive layer carrier. 'I'his inlet channel may be blocked by an inlet blocking means 43.

At the inlet channel -42 two transport rollers 44 and i45 are arranged above the guide surface 46 defining the opposite path in a certain spaced relation. This guide surface 46 carries the pile holder 41 at its lower curved end and leads with its upper end, which is curved around the roller 45, into a feed path leading into the developing bath. This feed path is formed by the guide surface 39 and the extension 47 of the bottom ofthe developing bath. Between the rollers 44, 45 another guide surface 48 is arranged in spaced relation to the guide surface 46.

The inlet blocking means 43 may for example be movable into the guide path 42 in the zone of the guide surface 48. The inlet blocking means may for example consist of several projections arranged rake-like side by side and extending from a bridge 49. At one or both sides of:

the bridge 49 guide rods 50 are provided which are supported by guide elements 5l, 52, for example supporting rollers, in such a slanting position that the projections forming the inlet blocking means 43 extend through the guide path 42. The inlet blocking means 43 may be moved out of the guide path 42 against the weight of this assembly group. The direction of movement is indicated by the arrow 53.

For achieving this movement in dependence on the inlet passage of a copying paper, at least one of the guide rods 50 is provided with a hook-like abutment 54 arranged in the path of movement of a counter abutment 56 which for example may be provided on the pivoting segment 55. The relative arrangement of the cooperating abutments 55 and 56 is such that the counter abutment 56 engages the abutment 54 when the pivoting arms 31 are moved into the position 31 thereby causing the inlet blocking means 43 to be lifted out of its position of blocking the guide path 42, when the pivoting arms have reached their position 31. Hereby the guide path is opened to feed a positive layer carrier into the developing device.

The positive layer carrier is manually moved over the pile holder 41 by pulling the uppermost layer carrier at 7 forwardly, i.e. to the left as seen in FIG. l, whereupon it is pushed in the opposite direction into the apparatus thus getting below the roller 44. Due to its stiffness the positive layer carrier will elastically engage the roller 44 ensuring the advance, but at the same time making it possible to prevent movement when the roller 44 slides over the positive layer carrier which abuts the inlet blocking means 43. The frictional contact is great enough to move the positive layer carrier forwardly after the inlet abutment 43` has been moved out of the guide path in the described manner, whereupon the positive layer carrier, assisted by the transporting action of the roller 45, is conveyed into the developing bath.

The embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 illustrates the use of a plurality of guiding and pressing belts 57, 58, 59 and 60. This embodiment however shows one separating tongue only, an annular groove 61 being provided in the roller for the rib of the separating tongue. Besides this it may be seen that a lateral flange 34 is provided on the separating tongue 33 positioned between the guiding and pressing belts and the exposure platform 10.

The embodiment according to FIG. 3 substantially corresponds to the apparatus according to FIG. l. Therefore differing features shall be considered only.

Evidently the front side of the apparatus is constructed differently, as two step-like recesses 62 and 63 are provided. This embodiment has the advantage that a supporting table is formed by the inlet slots 64 and 65 and that the outlet slot 66 for the copying paper and the positive layer carrier is arranged in a slanting surface.

According to FIG. 3 the separating tongue 67 consisting of a strut and a lateral ange will also effect a separation of the original and the copying paper which are fed through the slots 64 and '65. In the same manner as described already the separating tongue cooperates with the middle guide surface 68, and also a guide of the front end of the separating tongue between the guiding and pressing belts and a rotating cylinder '70 of the exposure device has been provided. The cylinder 'itl surrounds alight source 71 anda screen 72.

The separating tongue 67 is pivotally connected with at least one pivoting lever 73 embracing the cylinder, said pivoting lever being fastened at 74 behind the front wall of the apparatus. The pivoting lever 73 is formed and guided in such a way that it will move the end of the separating tongue 67, which is hingedly connected with the pivoting lever -by a joint 75, to the inlet '76 of the developing device, when it is pivoted. It should be noted that the pivoting lever or levers 73 is or are guided on the side walls of the housing so that the copying paper guided on the separating tongue may freely enter the developing; evice.

In this embodiment for example a spring 93, which is fastened with its one end on one of the pivoting levers '73 and with its other end on a fixed part 94 of the housing, serves to return the separating tongue 67 to its original position. It is pointed out however that also in this embodiment a rope with a weight could be provided for effecting the return movement.

In this embodiment the separating tongue requires relative the exposure cylinder 70 a greater freedom of movement which is provided by choosing, as compared to FIG. l, a greater diameter of the roller 77 for the guiding and pressing belts 69, whereby it is possible to provide a deeper annular groove within which the separating tongue 67 may move. The length of the separating tongue is determined by the guidance of the copying paper which must be moved out of the exposure device and into the developing device.

Correspondingly the roller 95 for the guiding and pressing belts 69 is provided with at least one relatively deep annular groove which, according to FIG. 3, is disposed in the plane of the drawing the same way as the annular groove of the roller 7'7. The depth of the annular grooves provides the required space for the movement and adjustment of the separating tongue 67.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 differs essentially from that shown in FIG. l, in that the stripper element 7S is connected with the front end of the separating tongue in the zone of the abutment 35 which may be extended by a rib 36. Upon pivoting the separating tongue into the position denominated with 67 and shown in dashed lines the stripper 78 will ilatly engage a dispensing table 80 leading to the outlet slot 81 for the original due t0 the movement of the joint 75 indicated by the arrow 79. In this end position the joint 75 may for example supportingly engage the end of the guide surface 84 lat the inlet 76 of the developing device with two fork-like projections provided on the joint. By means of this the guide path for the copying paper between the exposure Adevice and the developing device is completed at the same time.

The arrangement of the stripper 78 on the movable separating tongue ensures a very careful handling of the original, avoiding movement thereof over an abutment shoulder.

Due to the movement of the separating tongue, which has taken place in the meantime, and the thereby resulting movement of the abutment, the original may readily slide over the abutment, and move onto the stripper without stressing the leading edge of the original, as has been the case with hitherto known strippers. Itis pointed out that the abutment in this embodiment is formed by a projection passing through the stripper 78 which forms an acute angle with the separating tongue 67, said projection being formed by the extension of the vertical rib 0f the separating tongue.

In describing the function of the separating tongue 67 it should be noted that the separating tongue is guided on the cylinder '70. With respect to the end of the middle guide surface 66 this cylinder 70 is arranged so that the separating tongue in its receiving position, when the pivoting lever '73 is lifted, is indeed guided on the cylinder v7), but engages the inner end of the guide surface 68 spacedly disposed above the cylinder surface, thus making it possible to guide the copying paper between the separating tongue 67 and the cylinder 7d Upon continued advance the separation is then maintained, as the end o-f the separating tongue will only then contact the circumference of the cylinder when the copying paper has been placed below the separating tongue.

According to FIG. 3 also the positive layer carriers are stored in a pile at the lower side of the housing, the feeding arrangement being substantially the same as described in connection with FIG. l. In this embodiment however the inlet blocking means 85 project into the guide path 42, in which the rollers 44 and 45 are arranged, from the rear side of the apparatus. The inlet blocking means 85 are arranged on a bellcrank lever 87 pivotally supported at 86 by the housing. The free end of the one arm of the bellcrank lever 87 forms an abutment cooperating with the joint 75 or an abutment arranged in the zone of this joint. This abutment may for example be arranged on one of the pivoting levers 73 also.

A spring 96 may, according to this embodiment, be provided for retracting the inlet blocking means d5, said spring being fastened with its one end on the lever arm 78 and with its other end on the housing, for example on the guide surface 97.

The actuating abutment 8S formed by the one lever arm of the bellcrank lever 87 and the other lever arm which is pivotally connected with the inlet blocking means 85 have such a leverage that the movement of the inlet blocking means will be sufficient at a relatively small movement of the actuating abutment 88.

Upon moving the abutment 8S the bellcrank lever S7 is pivoted as shown in FIG. 3, so that the inlet blocking means 85 are retracted out of the guide path 42.

PIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which an additional transporting roller 89 is arranged in front of the developing bath. It should be noted however that also the embodiment shown in FIG. l may be provided with an additional transporting roller at a corresponding location whichfor example may also cooperate with the strut 33.

According to FIG. 3 a conveying arrangement is formed by the roller 45 and the roller 89, in which both rollers may directly engage each other if the guide surface 84 is apertured in the range of the roller arrangement. It is pointed out that in this case the length of the roller is less than the ywidth of the copying paper, or the positive layer `carrier respectively, to allow a separate guidance of these sheets at their edges.

The invention shall by no means be restricted tothe illustrated and described embodiments. Changes of the illustrated embodiments or the use of single features and subcombinations without reference to other features and subcombinations are possible within the limits of the attached claims without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for treating a layer carrier for making copies from an original, comprising a housing; rst inlet means in one wall of said housing formed by two channels through which an original and a negative layer carrier are separately introduced; first outlet means in one wall of said housing; a guide path between said first inlet means and said iirst outlet means; an exposure device arranged on said guide path behind said first inlet means; second outlet means in a wall of the housing; a `developing device arranged before said second outlet means, said exposure device comprising an exposure platform serving as guide means and conveying means moving along said exposure platform, said developing device comprising at least a iirst and a second guide element and a bath container yfor developing liquid, said iirst guide element serving to pass an exposed negative layer carrier through said developing liquid, and said second guide element serving to pass a positive layer `carrier through said developing liquid; a squeezing and conveying arrangement arranged between said rst and second guide elements of said developing device and said second outlet means; a strut-like movably guided separating tongue extending in the direction of advance over the entire length of said exposure platform, the distance between said exposure device and said developing device substantially corresponding to the length of said movable separating tongue, said separating tongue engaging with its one end in one position said first inlet means forming an extension of a separating wall between said two channels and in the other position engaging with its other end an extension of said first guide element of said developing device; a guide surface extending between said iirst outlet means and said path of movement of said separating element ending at a place in said path of movement of said separating means located on the side of said exposure device remote from said rst inlet means, said guide surface engaging said separating means to receive said original disposed on one side of said separating element after it has passed said exposure device and to lead it to said rst outlet means, while a negative layer carrier disposed on the other side of said separating element is fed to said first guide element of said developing device, vvhen said separating means is moved into its second position.

2. An apparatus according to claim l, wherein said separating means is formed by a strut connected with a pivoting arm pivotally supported by said housing and movable in such a way that said separating means will pivot from one position in which it extends through said exposure device into a position in which it will form a connecting guide element between said exposure device and said developing device, means for return movement being provided acting on said separating means to move it lback into its rlirst position in said exposure device.

`3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pile holder for positive layer carriers is arranged within said housing, guide means being provided 'between said pile holder and said second guide element of said developing device, said guide means having a curved guide surface leading around at least one roller with spaced relation to said roller, feed blocking means being movably disposed between said roller and said developing device adapted to be pushed through said guide surface into a position to block the passage of a positive layer carrier and to be retracted into a position to allow the passage of a positive layer carrier, said feed blocking means comprising an actuating element arranged in the path of movement of said separating means to be actuated when said separating means approach the second position on said developing device.

4. ln an apparatus for treating a layer carrier together with an original at a source of radiation, a housing, inlet means in a wall of said housing, outlet means spaced from said inlet means, means defining a guide path from said inlet means to said outlet means, said guide path means including radiation transmitting means defining a guide surface on one side, and on the other side conveyor means engaging said guide surface and movable thereon in the direction from said inlet means toward said outlet means, said inlet means comprising first guide means extending to said conveyor means, second guide means extending to said guide surface, and third guide means disposed between said first and second guide means and having its inner edge spaced from said guide surface, said outlet means including a lirst outlet opening for discharge of said original, and a second` outlet opening for said layer carrier and spaced from said first outlet opening, separating means having a separating edge and disposed between said guide surface and said conveyor means for movement back and forth along said guide Surface between a first position in which said separating edge is adjacent to said third guide means so that the separating means forms an extension of said third guide means and guides the original and the layer carrier to opposite sides of said separating means, and a second position in which said separating means is substantially withdrawn from between said guide surface and said conveyor means, a first guide element extending from said rst outlet opening toward said guide surface and having an edge spaced above said guide surface so as to cause the original to pass along said first guide element to said rst outlet opening, a second guide element arranged to form a continuation of said separating element when in said second position to guide the layer carrier toward said second outlet opening, and shoulder means on said separating means extending transversely -to said guide path at a distance from said separating edge to form an abutment for the leading edge of at least one of said sheets comprising the original and the layer carrier, whereby said separating means is caused to participate in the movement of the original and the layer carrier along said guide path from said rst to said second position of said separating means.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including means connected with said separating means and biasing said separating means toward said rst position.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which said separating means has a length substantially equal to the length of said guide path, lever means secured to said separating means, and means pivotally connecting said lever means with said housing.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said guide surface and said separating means are curved along arcs of concentric circles, and the axis of said pivot means coincides with the center of said circles.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which said guide surface comprises the outer surface of a rotatably mounted cylinder.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including a stripper means secured to said separating means behind said shoulder means and adapted to engage said first guide element when said separating means is in said second position.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including developing means adjacent to said second guide element, means supporting a supply of positive layer carriers, guiding and transporting means between said supply means and said developing means including at least one roller, and retr-actable feedblocking means in said guiding and transporting means, said feed blocking means including an actuating element adapted to be operated by said separating means to retract said feed blocking means when said separating means is in said second position.

111. The apparatus as set forth in claim l0, in which said guiding and transporting means includes means defining an arcuate guide surface curved around a portion of said roller and spaced therefrom.

l2. An apparatus for treating a layer carrier together with an original at a source of radiation, comprising a housing; inlet means in a wall of said housing; outlet means in a wall of said housing; a guide path between said inlet and said outlet means, said guide path being defined on one side by conveying means driven in a sense to convey said layer carrier and original from said inlet means to said outlet means, and on the other side by guide means, said conveying means moving under pressure on said guide means which is permeable for the radiation transmitted from said source of radiation, said inlet means being defined by three guide elements and said outlet means being defined by three guide elements, the rst guide elements extending to said conveying means, the second guide elements extending to said guide means, and the third guide elements being disposed between the first and second guide elements ending with spaced relation to said guide means, said third intermediate guide elements being extended by separating means arranged between said conveying means and said guide means, said separating means being adapted to keep an original and a layer carrier, each being fed on one side of said third guide element, at least partly separated from each other, while they are passing said conveying means and said guide means, said separating means being movable and forming in a first position an extension of said third guide element of said inlet means, pivoting arms being provided which carry on one end said separating means while the other end is pivotally supported by said housing, said separating means upon pivoting defining a path of movement such that said separating means when moved into its second position will engage said third guide element of said outlet means, in which second position said separating means forms a guide path for said layer carrier from said guide means to said third guide element of said outlet means, said movable separating means being provided with -an abutment arranged at the end engaging said third guide element of said inlet means in said first position, said abutment being spaced from said end and projecting into said guide path formed between said rst and said third guide elements of said inlet means, said separating means being formed by a strut having substantially a T-shaped cross section with its web extending parallel to said guide means and its leg extending at a right angle to said guide means, said leg forming an abutment at one end, said conveying means comprising at least two driven guide rollers and a plurality of transporting and pressing belts arranged in spaced relation from each other on said guide rollers so as to engage said guide means at least section-like, said guide rollers being provided with annular grooves arranged between said transporting and pressing belts, and said separating means being movable between said transporting and pressing belts and within said grooves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,371,925 Schade Mar. 20, 1945 2,766,044 Schulze Oct. 9, 1956 2,925,025 Conner Feb. 16, 1960 

